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MAXIMize the Moment Junior Volume 2, Issue 12

MAXIMize the Moment Junior Volume 2, Issue 12

November 25, 2003
Document
Topic: 
MAXIMize the Moment Junior
Age Range: 
8-10

Story

I've had a terrible day and want to be alone, but my little sister keeps bugging me. She's so annoying and won't go away. I try to get my mom to make the little brat leave me alone. But she won't.

"Of course you won't help me," I say, "Nothing's ever the way I want it!"

My mother thinks that I am in need of an attitude adjustment and says, "Kendra, I'm sorry that you've had a tough day, but you have a family that loves you. You are healthy and have a comfortable home to live in. You have nice friends. Do you know how many millions of children around the world would love to have those things? There are hundreds of thousands of kids growing up here in the US who don't have those things. Do you even realize how lucky you are? Instead of walking around here moping, 'develop an attitude of gratitude.' Take a little time to focus on the joys in your life. They're there, if you're willing to see them."

My mom is right. I need to stop thinking about all the things I don't have and start being aware of the good things in my life. It's time to "develop an attitude of gratitude."

This week's maxim is "Develop an attitude of gratitude."  

Maxim

  • "Develop an attitude of gratitude..."
    Brian Tracy

Character points

  • Appreciation- I see the gifts in my life and to say, "Thanks."
  • Gratitude- I know that I have a lot a to be thankful for and I am.
  • Thankfulness- I am aware of my blessings; I am happy because do not take things for granted.
  • Perspective- I am able to see the "big picture"; I remember what really matters.
  • Joy- I take the time to notice the good things in my life that bring me happiness.

Homeroom Discussion Information

  • List ten things you are thankful for. Which five are most important to you? Why?
  • Does your list contain anything that you would not have included last year? Why?
  • What does it mean to be a "grateful" person?
  • Why is it important to be grateful?
  • What sorts of things cause you to pause and be grateful?
  • How can learn to be grateful everyday, not just on holidays or when bad things happen?
  • Why is it important to feel grateful all the time, not just on special occasions?
  • What do you think it means to have an "attitude of gratitude"? What would someone with that attitude be like?
  • At the beginning of the story, the narrator is frustrated and upset. Does that mean she is not grateful? Why or why not?
  • How does a grateful person deal with hard times and frustrations?
  • Does a grateful act differently than someone who takes things for granted? Explain how.
  • Thanksgiving is a time that many individuals do volunteer work and communities organize food or clothing drives. How is helping others related to feeling grateful?
  • Why is it important to help others at all year round-not just during the holiday season?

Home-Use Information

Five tips for maxim-izing your family time

  • If possible, make this MAXIMize a part of your family Thanksgiving celebration. Words of praise and love are too good not to share with aunts, uncles, and grandparents!
  • Use this discussion time as an opportunity to let your kids know how much you love them. Also, tell them some specific things about them that you love.
    If your kids have trouble telling you back, try not to be too disheartened. These feelings can be hard to put into words.
  • If some members of your family are struggling to put their thoughts into words, have them write it out or even color a picture about it.
  • Use this as an opportunity to institute "Bad Thing, Good Things" as part of your daily dinner conversation. This means that, at the beginning of dinner, you go around in a circle and each person, without interruption, says one bad thing and two good things that happened to him or her that day. This game is a great opportunity to get everyone talking and to catch each other up on the day's news.

 Discussion starters

  • What are three things that you are thankful for today?
  • What are five things about this family that you are thankful for?
  • Say at least two things that you are thankful for about each member of this family.
  • How can gratitude help us to gets through tough times in life? Challenges we, as a family, face?
  • What can we, as a family, do to help each other be better about saying thanks?
  • When we are thankful for the good things in our lives, we become more sensitive to the needs of others. What can we do as a family to help those who are less fortunate?
  • How could we, as a family, use our time and talents to help others?
  • What is one thing that each of us could do to help others? (Encourage each family member to answer something uniquely suited to his/her gifts and interests). How can we go about making that happen?

 

Be sure to acknowledge the courage your children show in talking with you about these issues.

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